Hontiveros hit over claims on PPE procurement

MANILA, Philippines — A House leader branded yesterday as a “publicity stunt” Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ claim that the government’s importation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from China was overpriced by P1 billion.

“Senator Hontiveros bristles at criticisms for not presenting hard evidence to back her claims,” said Deputy Speaker and SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who downplayed her expose as “baseless.”

Presenting purchase contracts to media last Monday, Hontiveros insinuated that five million PPEs purchased by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from April to May this year were overpriced by P1 billion.

But Marcoleta said the opposition senator is just making an issue out of the PPE project “to attack the Duterte administration.”

“None of these documents show, much less prove, that the PPEs purchased by DBM were overpriced,” said Marcoleta, adding that Hontiveros could have presented a comparative matrix backed by receipts or other documents to show her claim of price disparity.

The congressman said Hontiveros merely cited the Philippine General Hospital’s PPE purchases at much lower prices, which he said could only pertain to old, existing stocks from retail outlets as no Philippine company could meet government’s massive emergency requirements at the time.

“It’s a fact that test kits and PPE prices jumped astronomically around April and May as countries tried to outbid each other for much needed supplies for their frontliners. Prices only stabilized as production started to cope with demand by July-August,” he said.

While Congress has oversight powers, they should not be used and abused by Hontiveros for “self-serving fishing expeditions,” Marcoleta said.

He recalled that in the case of PPEs bought during the Aquino administration at P3,500 per set, there was very clear evidence of overpricing when compared to the average P1,700 per PPE set bought by the current DBM.

“It’s basic: the one making the accusations should prove it, instead of the accused defending their innocence,” he said.